Baseball pitching practice target with ball and strike indicators



Nov. 17, 1964 F. J. GAUDET' BASEBALL pncamc PRACTICE TARGET wmz BALL ANDSTRIKE INDICATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4. 1960 VOOOL OOOOOINVENTOR. 7. 640057 EEDER/CK BY L i t 2 HTTORA/EY Nov. 17, 1964 F. J.GAUDET 3,157,399

BASEBALL PITCHING PRACTICE TARGET WITH BALL AND STRIKE INDICATORS FiledMay 4. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 68 A M l 68 6 i 72 72 d 20 a 2o ll 38 40 v@1240 r42 1/ 4% S r {46 K I 1 I INV EN TOR. FkEDEE/cKJT 644/057 I?TTOP/VE Y Nov. 17, 1964 F. J. GAUDET BASEBALL PITCHING PRACTICE TARGETWITH BALL AND STRIKE INDICATORS Filed May 4. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4mmvrox FEEDEP/CK I Gnuoar MSW F. J. GAUDET BASEBALL PITCHING PRACTICETARGET WITH BADL AND STRIKE INDICATORS Nov. 17, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed May 4. 1960 NQOUW \fSOMIL.

INVENTOR. FeE E/e/cKC/T GHUDET BY L gQfluw HTTORNEY United States Patent3 I57 399 BASEBALL PITCIENG PiiAC'IICE TARGET WITH BALL AND STRIKEINDICATORS Frederick E. Gaudet, New York, N.Y., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Psychological Training Devices Corpm ration, New YorkN.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 4, 1960, Ser. No. 26,786 6Claims. (Cl. 27326) My invention relates to a baseball pitching practicedevice and more particularly to a device for indicating the accuracywith which a pitcher throws pitches toward a strike zone.

There are known in the prior art various devices which may be used for apitcher in practicing to improve his skill. In general these devices donot define the strike zone with a suflicient degree of accuracy. Many ofthese devices of the prior art require that a pitch thrown at the devicebe arrested in order to actuate the indicating means of the device. As aresult of the shocks they must absorb these units have a relativelyshort life. The devices of the prior art employed for this purposeindicate whether or not a pitch thrown toward the device will passthrough the strike zone. In general they make no provision forindicating the precise location Within the strike zone through which thepitch will pass. Thus, they do not afford a practicing pitcher having areasonable degree of skill with an indication which is sufiicientlyaccurate to permit him to improve his skill in throwing a pitch towardparticular areas within the strike zone.

I have invented a baseball pitching practice device which overcomes thedisadvantages of devices of the prior art pointed out hereinabove. Mydevice defines both the lateral and the vertical extent of the strikezone with a high degree of accuracy. My device has a rela tively longlife as compared with devices of the prior art in that it does notrequire a pitch thrown toward the device to be stopped in order that theindicator of the device be actuated. My baseball pitching practicedevice is highly flexible in that it may readily be set up either toregister just strikes and balls or to register various scores fordifferent areas within the strike zone. My device is relatively simplein construction for the result achieved.

One object of my invention is to provide a baseball pitching practicedevice which registers balls or strikes thrown toward the device with ahigh degree of accuracy.

Another object of my invention is to provide a baseball pitchingpractice device which is rugged and which has a long life in that itdoes not require a pitch thrown toward the device to be stopped in orderto actuate its indicator.

A further object of my invention is to provide a highly flexiblebaseball pitching practice device which may be ple in construction forthe result achieved by the device.

Other and further objects of my invention will appea from the followingdescription.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of "ice a baseballpitching practice device having a .pair of spaced frames one of whichcarries actuatable means defining the lateral extent of the strike zoneand the other one of which carries actuatable means defining thevertical extent of the strike zone. In response to the actuation by apitch passing through the frames of both the actuatable means carried bythe respective frames the device' registers a strike. In response to theactuation by a pitch passing through the frames of only one of theactuatable means carried by the respective frames the device registers'a ball. Means may be provided for indicating that a pitch passingthrough the frames entirely without the strike zone is a ball. Thedevice maybe set up either to register only balls and strikes or it maybe set up to give scores which depend upon that area of the strike zonethrough which is a pitch passes.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instantspecification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and inwhich like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in thevarious views.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of my baseball pitchingpractice device;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the form of my baseball pitchingpractice device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the form of my baseballpitching practice device shown in FIG- URE 1 with parts broken away andillustrating the details of a mechanical form of actuatable means whichmay be employed.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view indicating the details of a photoelectrictype of actuatable means which may be used on my baseball pitchingpractice device;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of a form of electrical circuit which maybe used with my baseball pitching practice device to indicate balls andstrikes;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of my baseball pitchingpractice device indicating one form 0 counter actuating means which maybe used;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic view of an alternate form of electrical circuitwhich may be used with our device to give various-scores for diiferentareas of the strike zone;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view illustrating the details of theballs-thrown counter actuating unit of the form of my invention shown inFIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic view showing the details of the ball-or-strikecounter actuator unit of the form of my invention shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic view of a strike counter actuator unit of theform of my invention shown in FIG- URE 7.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings, one

form of my baseball pitching practice device includes a framework,indicated generally by the reference character 7 i 10, includes spacedfront and rear frames 12 and 14 through which a pitch passes to acatcher made up of a fabric 16 or the like supported on the framework10. The frame 12 carries a plurality of cords 18 which extend verticallybetween the top and the bottom of the frame 12. The cords 18 carried bythe frame 12 define an area extending to the left and to the 1 right ofthe strike zone, which area may be termed a ball area since any pitchpassing through this area is outside the left and right extent of thestrike zone indicated by the distance A in FIGURE 1. Since a pitchstriking'oneof the cords 18in the course of its passage through theframe '12 definitely is outside the strike zone, the cords 18 are termedball cords. The frame 12 carries a number of vertically extending cords2i) disposed within the i left-to-right extent A of the strike zone.

A pitch striking one of the cords 29 in the course of its passagethrough the frame 12 maybe a' ball if it isoutside the Vertical extentofthe strike zone indicated 7 by the distance B in FIGURE 1 or it may be astrike if it is with in the vertical extent of the strike zone. Thus thecords 20 are termedffball-or-strike cords.

From the structure just described it will be seen that a pitch passingthrough the frame 12 to the left or to the right of the centralball-or-strike cords-20 definitely is aiballwhile a pitch striking oneof the cords 20 may be a ball or it may be a strike; The frame 14disposed 'b'ehindfthe frame 12 carries a pluralitysof horizontallyextending cords 22 all of which are disposed within thevefiichiiteht Bof "the strike zone. A pitch which aicord' 20 in the course ofi'tspassage through 'frarne 'l2 but which is outside the vertical extent Bofthe strike zone misses all the cords 22 with the result that it 7 is"known to be a ball; A pitch striking one of the cords '20 which pitch iswithin the vertical extent B of the strike zone will in'the coi zrse' ofits passage in the frame 14' strike a cord'22' definitely toindicatethat this pitch is a strike. i

If desired, I'may support the framework 10' on wheels 24 carried by' anaxle 26; The framework 16 supports a counter indicator 28, which in'oneform 'of my device has a window 30 indicatingthe total number of balls',a window 32 indicating the total number of strikes, a Window 34indicating the number'of balls for a hypothetical i batter, and a window36 showing the number of strikes 'onthe batter. I arrange each one ofthe cords 18, 20,

- and 22 to actuate a suitable switch. Since all the cords and switchesare substantially 'similan'I will describe only the switchingarrangement associated with the cords 20 in detail. 7 v

Referring now to FIGURE 3 I secure the lower end of each cord 20, whichmay be formed of any suitable material such, for example; as nylon, toan eye 48 by means of a'fitting 38; Each eye 40 engages-a hook .42adjustit ably mounted in the base 44 of the frame12 by means of nuts 46and '48. The upper end of each cord 29'passes "throughiagroinmet 50 inthe lower flange 52 of the top "54- ofiframe 12.] A' fitting 56 securedtothe upper end of the cord 20 by any suitable'means such as by a setscrew I *58 fastens the cord to a'linkage 60 pivotally connected to apin 62 carried 'by a switch actuating a'rm'64 rotatably carried by a pinor screw 66*o'n the topfSd. I mount a microswitch 68 on the top 54 in aposition adjacent each arm 64' to be actuated by the-arm when 'it movesin-a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3. 'Aispring 70 carried bya bracket 72 onthe top 54 normally biasesf "thearm 64 to a positionat'which'it is out of engagement with its associated switch. a A

From the structure just described it will be seen that when any one ofthe cords 18, 20, or 22 is struck by a jipitch,the cordmoves itsassociated arm 64'to operate I the corresponding switch 68. V v a It isto be understood that whileI haveshown cords 18, 20, and 22forfrnechanic ally. actuating switches 68, t I -I 'couldyas well employother arrangements.

' ample,'I couldreplace each one of the cords 18,20, and", i ;22,with aphotoelectric system'for operating a switch;

For ex i .Referring now to FIGURE 4, in such'an arrangement' 1 eachofthecords 25) would be replaced by a source ,of illumination; such,for' example, as a lamp '72 adapted t I to direct illuminating radiationonto 'the'sensitive element ,ofa'photoelectric cell 74: In thisarrangement one of enm s 72' and photocell 74'w'ouldbe' carried by thebott torn 44'of'frarne-12while theothe'r one of the lamps and"fphotocell would betcarried y the top 54.- Alternatively jthe'provision or a plurality of lamps 72, asingle source of"illumination disposed behind a mask having a number of aperturescorresponding to the number of cords 18 and 20 could be used. In thearrangement shown in FIGURE 4 I connect the photocell 74 in series witha resistor'76 between the terminal 78 of a suitable source of potentialand ground. I connect a relay winding 80, adapted when energized toclose a normally open switch 82 through a linkage '84, in parallel withthe photocell 74. With light from the lamp 72 impinging on the sensitiveelement of the photocell 74 insufiicient current news through thewinding 8% to permit it to close the switch 82. When, however, a p tchinterrupts the beam-of light to de-energize the photocell '74, thenrelay winding 86 energizes to close switch 82 in an analogous manner tothat in'which a cord mechanically closes:

"switch 68.

7 Referring now to V trical circuit of a form of my baseball pitchingand practice device adapted to register and to indicate the total numberof balls, the total number 'of strikes, and the 2 number of balls andstrikes for each hypothetical batter.

This form of my device includes a number of normally 7 'open ballswitches 86 adapted to be actuated by cords 18 or by a photoelectricarrangement of the type shown in FIGURE 4, a number of'normally-openball-or-strike switches 88 adapted to be operated by cords 20 or by'photoelectric relays and a number of normally open strike switches 90adapted to be actuated by cords 22 or 'by photoelectric relays. Iconnect the switches sobetween the positive terminal of a suitablesource'of potential such 'as a battery 92 and a ball relay winding 94through the medium of a terminal board 96. In a similar manner I connectthe switches 88 in parallel between the battery 92 and aball-or-strikerelay winding 96. I connect the switches 90 in parallel between thebattery 92 and a strike relay winding 98.

Let us assume by wayof through the frame 12 strikes a ball cord 18momentarily to close'a normally openswitch 86. When the switch closes,the circuit of' relay winding 94 is complete to of contact armsliitl'and 1M out of engagementwith their associatedupper, contacts 104and 106 and into engagernent with their'respective lower contacts 108and 11! This operationcompletes a holding circuit for the winding 94through the switch arm 102, through a cam operated counter switch arm112 normally'in engagement with' a contact 136 connected to contact 110,through a conductor 114, through a reset switch arm 7 116, and throughconductors'118 and 120 to the battery 92. At the same time theengagement of arm 166 with contact 108-completes the circuitof aballcounter solee noid winding 122from fthe windingthrou'gh contact 108 andarm 100; through a conductor124 connected to contact 136 and through theportionof the holding circuit just described from' arm11'2 tothebattery92; 'Energiipawltmechanism'tdbe' described in detail hereinafterearn 139 ttu'ou'gh one step of rotation.

with'the contact 146.1: I connect theicontact 138 'toj'f'a V 3 counter15% by means of aco'nduc'tor 148 to indicatethe V "number of ballspitchedito an individual hypothetical batter. t i p A When the armlllmovesoutof engagement with'the 7O contact135, itin'terrupts'theholding circuitfor winding I f v 1794 and also interruptsthe'circuit ofthe ball counter wind-1 a IZZQ 'When'the arm 112fengages contact 138,,itcorn-j t pletes the "circuit of a totalfballs Ielaywindifig ISZ fromTftheiwindin'g "1521i throughgacdnductor'lii to fcontactg'j,

138 and arm112" to'conductor 114 through switch arm f FIGURE 5, I haveshown the elec- 7 example that a pitch passing energize the winding tocause the winding to draw a pair zation :of the solenoid winding 1 22operates a ratchetand 116 and conductors 118 and 120 to battery 92. Uponits energization the relay winding 152 moves its contact arms 153 and156 into engagement with lower switch contacts 158 and 160. Theengagement of contact arm 156 with contact 160 completes a holdingcircuit for winding 152 through a units total balls counter switch arm162 normally in engagement with a contact 164 connected to a contact169. This holding circuit is complete through arms 156 and 162 inengagement with contacts 160 and 164 to a conductor 166 connected toconductor 114. The engagement of switch arm 153 with contact 158completes the circuit of the total balls counter solenoid winding 168from conductor 120 connected to battery 92, through conductor 114,through arm 153 and contact 158 to the winding 168. Upon itsenergization winding 168 acts through a ratchet and pawl indicatedschematically at 178 in FIGURE 5 to step a reset cam 172, a unitsbfll-counter cam 174 and a tens ball-counter cam 176. As the cam 174steps through a tenth of a revolution in response to the energization ofwinding 168, it acts against a spring 178 to move contact arm 162 out ofengagement with contact 164 and into engagement with a contact 189 toapply a pulse to the units balls indicator 182 through a channel 184. Itwill be appreciated that, if desired, a drum carrying ten numerals couldbe mounted directly on the shaft carrying the cams 172, 174, and 176 toindicate the units digit in the total number of balls. Each time theshaft carrying the cams 172, 174, and 176 goes through a singlerevolution cam 176 acts against a spring 186 to move a switch arm 188into engagement with a contact 190 to apply a pulse to the total-balls,tens-digit indicator 192 through a channel 194.

From the structure just described it will be seen that when pitchesstrike any of the balls cords 18, the number of balls for an individualtheoretical batter is indicated on the counter or indicator 150 whilethe total number of balls for any practice session is indicated on thecounters 192 and 182. Let us now assume that a pitch passing through theframe 12 strikes a cord 21) which is within the left and right extent Aof the strike zone. When this occurs, a switch 88 closes to complete thecircuit from battery 92 to winding 96 to energize the winding and thusto move respective switch arms 196 and 198 into engagement with contacts200 and 202. When the arm 198 engages the contact 202, it completes aholding circuit for the winding 96 through the switch arm 198, through acontact 294 engaged by a cam operated switch arm 236, through thecontact 164 and switch arm 160 to conductor 124, and through the contact136 and switch arm 112 to the conductor 114 which is connected toconductor 12!) by switch arm 116 and conductor 118. At the same time asarm 198 engages contact 262, contact arm 196 engages contact 209 tocomplete a circuit from the battery conductor 120 through arm 196 andcontact 260 through a switch arm 208 in engagement with a contact 210and through a resistor 212 to winding 122. I connect a capacitor 214 inparallel with winding 122. Owing to the resistance of resistor 212 andthe capacitance of capacitor 214 in this circuit winding 122 is notimmediately energized upon the engage ment of arm 196 with contact 268.

Let us assume that the pitch which has actuated a ball or strike cord 29in the frame 12 now passes through the frame 14 without actuating any ofthe cords 22 defining the vertical extent B of the strike zone. Underthese conditions after a short delay solenoid winding 122 is energizedand a ball is registered on the counter 150, which indicates the numberof balls pitched to an individual hypothetical batter. A ball also isregistered on the counters 192 and 182, which register the total numberof balls thrown in a particular practice session in the manner describedhereinabove.

If a pitch which has actuated a ball or strike cord 20 in the course ofits passage through frame 12 now strikes a cord 22 in the course of itspassage through frame 14 and before suflicient time has elapsed forwinding 122 to be energized, a switch closes to complete the circuitfrom battery 92 to winding 98 to draw arm 208 out of engagement with thecontact 210 and into engagement with the contact 216 and to move acontact arm 218 into engagement with a contact 220. It will be seen thatthe movement of arm 208 out of engagement with contact 210 interruptsthe circuit of winding 122 to prevent this Winding from registering aball. Movement of arm 218 into engagement with contact 220 completes aholding circuit for winding 98 through contact 204 and arm 206, throughcontact 104 and arm to conductor 124 and through contact 136 and arm 112to conductor 114 which is connected to battery 92 by conductor 120, theswitch 116, and conductor 118. At the same time the engagement of arm208 with contact 216 completes the circuit of the individualhypothetical batter strike counter actuating solenoid winding 222 fromthe winding through contact 216 and arm 208 and through contact 200,which it will be remembered is engaged by the arm 196 connected toconductor 120. Up on its energization winding 222 operates a ratchet andpawl mechanism indicated by the reference character 224 to step a strikecounter actuating cam 226 and a reset cam 228. When in response to theenergization of winding 222 the shaft carrying cams 226 and 228 stepsthrough a quarter of a revolution, cam 226 acts against a spring 239 tomove arm 286 out of engagement with contact 204 to interrupt the holdingcircuits of windings 96 and 98 and into engagement with a contact 232 tosupply a pulse to a strike counter 234 which registers the number ofstrikes thrown to an individual batter. This circuit is complete fromarm 296 through contact 164 and arm 1% to conductor 124 and throughcontact 136 and arm 112 to conductor 114 which is connected to batteryconductor through arm 116 and conductor 118. At the same time cam 228acts against a spring 236 to move a contact arm 238 out of engagementwith the contact 240.

When arm 2G6 engages contact 232, it completes the circuit of a totalstrikes relay winding 242 through the circuit outlined above. Whenenergized, winding 242 moves respective switch arms 244 and 246 intoengagement 'with contacts 248 and 250. The engagement of arm 246 withcontact 256 completes a holding circuit for Winding 242 from the windingthrough arm 246 and contact 250 through a switch contact 252 and arm 254and through a conductor 256 to the battery conductor 120. At the sametime the engagement of switch arm 244 with a contact 248 completes acircuit from conductor 121 to a winding 258 adapted to step a reset cam26%), a units strike counter cam 262 and a tens strike counter cam 264through a ratchet and pawl mechanism 266. When in response to theenergization of winding 258, cam 262 steps through a tenth of arevolution it moves arm 254 out of engagement with contact 252 and intoengagement with a contact 268 to send a pulse to the units counter 270of the total strikes indicator. It will be appreciated that, if desired,the units counter 270 could be in the form of a dial carried directly bythe shaft which supports the cams 260, 262, and 264. Each time the shaftcarrying the carns goes through a single revolution cam 264 acts againsta spring 272 to move an arm 274 out of engagement with a contact '276andinto engagement with a contact 278 to apply a pulse to From thestructure thus far described it will be'seen.

that each time a pitch passing through the framef12 7 strikes a cord 18it causes a ball to be registered on the counter-151' which shows thenumber of balls. pitched toan individual hypothetical batter. Atthetsame time a ball is registered on the counters 192 and 182 show;

' ing the total number of balls for a'particular practice session} If apitch strikes a cordltl in passing through the frame 12 but fails tostrike a cord 22 in passing through Referring now to FIGURE6, I' haveillustrated the details of one of the counter cams. By way of example Ihave shown the cam 174 associated with the switch comprising a resilientarm 162 normally in engagement with the contact 154 and adapted .tobemoved into engagement with a contact 180 when the shaft steps. As

has been explained hereinabove, when winding 168 is energized, it actsthrough a mechanism indicated schematically hi FIGURE at'170 to step theshaft One form of this mechanism as shown in FIGURE 6 may include anarmature 282 which pivots in response to the energization of winding 168to drive a bell crank 284 p in a clockwise'direction as viewed in FIGURE6 to move a pawl 286 tothe right against the action of a spring 288.When' the pawl moves, it engages a ratchet wheel 290 to move the shaft292. carrying cam 174 through an angle corresponding to the distancefrom the base of one of the cam'detents to a position atthe beginning ofthe next detent. In this position of the parts, switch arm 162 is inengagement with contact 180. When the winding 168 is -.de-energized,spring 288 returns the pawl and the leaf spring arm 162 acting through afollower 294 in engagement with the cam, causes the follower engagescontact 164. The arrangement is such that as long as the winding 168remains energized,shaft 292 cannot rotate to a position at which thefollower 294 is in the base of the next recess. a a

Referring again to FIGURE 5, I connect a reset switch 296 for theindividual hypothetical batter counters 150 and 234 between the battery92 and' one terminal of a Winding 298, the other terminal of which isconnected to ground. When-counter 150 indicates four balls or whencounter 234 indicates three strikes to show either that'a walldhas beenissued or that the batter has struck out, the practicing pitcher closesswitch 296 to energize windiing 298, thus to open switch'li to disablethe holding circuits for windings 34,96, 98, 152 and 242; At the sametime potential is applied to winding 122 through a .diode 3% and'througharm 144 and contact146. Simi-v If apitch passing through frames 12 and'114-and switch arm 284provides a means for applying a reset potential towinding 258. The resetting of the total pending upon that area of thestrike zone through'which a pitch passes. This form of my invention,like the'form of the invention shown in FIGURE 5, includes a plurality 7the circuit from the battery through conductor 332 and r ,to ride intothe base of the next detent and arm'162 again larly, potential isapplied to the winding 222 througha diode 302 and'through arm 238- andcontact 240. In response-tc this potential cams 128 and 139 step,causing the arm 144 to leave the contact 146 to interrupt theenergizingcircuit each time a projection 140 acts against. springijcircuit through switch arm-144 is notinterrupted and the pawl-in theactuating mechanism of this system will not be fwithdrawn to permit cam128 to 'arriveifat' the zero J position until the reset'switch 2% isopened to interrupt .thecirc'uit ofwinding 122. Cams 226 and 228 operatein a similar manner SO' that WIflI switch 236 closed, both ..-the ballcounter actuating cam 128 and thestrikc counter. actuatingcam"226.step"around to just before their ze'ro' -positions. fl hen-theswitch 2% is opened, both cams 128. and 22 5 go intotheirlzero positionsyl provide a reset switch 364 foriapplying a reset potential to winding168 from conductor 114 through'a diode 386. A switch 368 connected inseries with a diode 3 10 betwecn co'riductor' 142. ltwillbeseen that inthe'location around'the peof ball switches 86, a plurality ofball-or-strike switches 88, and a plurality of strike switches 96, allofwhich are connected in parallel between the source of potential such asa battery 92 and a terminal board 310. The form of my invention shown inFIGURE 7 includes a balls-thrown counter actuator unit, indicatedgenerally by the reference character 312 in FIGURE 7 and shown in detailin FIGURE 8. All the ball switches 86 are connected in parallel betweenthe source of potential 92 and a terminal C of the unit 312 through theterminal board 310. Whenever a pitch passing through frame'12 strikes acord 18, potential is applied to a relay winding 314 to move respectivecontact arms 316 and 313 out of engagement with contacts 320 and 322 andinto engagement with contacts 324 and 326; The engagement of the arm 318with contact 326completes a holding circuit forwinding314 from thewindingQthrough arm 318 and contact 326, and through a switch arm 328normally in engagement with a contact 330 connectedfto the terminal Bvof the unit 312 which is connected to the battery 92 by a conductor 332.Engagement of the arm 316 with contact 324 completes terminal B to awinding 334 adapted when energized to step a units balls counteractuator cam 336, a tens balls counter-actuating cam 338,-and aballs-thrown counter reset cam 340 through one step of revolution. As itpasses through a step of revolution, cam 336 acts against a 7 spring 342to move contact arm 328 out of engagement with contact 330 and intoengagement witha contact 344 connected to a terminal X leading to theballs-thrown units indicator 346. Upon the occurrence of the tenth step.of the cams, cam 338 acts against a spring 346 to move a contact arm348 into engagement with a contact the balls-thrown countermechanism tozero in a manner analogous to that described hereinabove in connectionwith the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 5;

It will be appreciated that the structure thus far described is verysimilar to that of the balls counter mechanism in the form of myinvention shown in FIGURE 5.

The unit 312 includes a relay winding 358 connected be tween a terminalD to which potential is applied ina manner to be described hereinafterand ground. When energized, winding 35? moves respective contact arms369 and 362 into engagement with contacts "364 and 1366 'con- ,nectedrespectively to contacts 324 and 326. i \Whenwindmg 358 is energized,the balls-throwncounters are actuated in the 'same manner. asthatdescribed hereinabove when the winding 314 is energized.

a I provide the form of -my inventionshown in FIG- 7 URE7 with aplurality of ball counters, each of which is indicatedgenerally'by:thereference character 36% in FIGURE 7 and one of which 'is shownindetail i'n'FIG-f 9; Each of t he units 3&8 comprises a terminal'jconnected a; a contact 379. normally engaged 3''2 connected to,terminal I .so arranged-the units 368 that they give various counts orweights in the scar-j 'ing. By way ofjexample;.-i1 have; shown ten "368adapted to score from one to ten points. I have indicated the number ofpoints scored by each of the units the block representing the unit inFIGURE 7. In order to energize these units I connect the terminal A ofthe unit 312 which is normally connected to the terminal B of the unitthrough contact 320 and switch 316 to the terminal H of the highestcount unit 368 by a conductor 374. A circuit is normally completebetween the terminals G and H of each unit 368 by the engagement ofcontact arm 372 with contact 370. I connect the terminal G of a highercount device to the terminal H of the next lower count device. In thismanner all of the units 368 normally are conditioned to permit theiroperation. However, when the arm 372 of any unit moves out of engagementwith the contact 370 of that unit, then all lower count units aredisabled. I connect the respective terminals 1 of the units 368 toterminals carried by the board 310. I connect the switches 88 to variousones of the terminals to which units 368 are connected to give whateverweight is desired to areas of the left-and-right extent of the strikezone. When a pitch passing through the frame 12 strikes a cord 20 toclose a switch 88 associated with a particular unit 368, the circuit ofa relay winding 376 of that unit is complete to move arm 372 out ofengagement with contact 370 to disable all lower count units. At thesame time the winding 376 moves an arm 378 into engagement with acontact 380 to complete a holding circuit for the winding through acontact 382 and an arm 384 connected to the terminal H of the unit. Whenarm 372 moves out of engagement with contact 370 it strikes a contact386 to complete the circuit of a stepping winding 388 through a contactarm 390 normally engaging a contact 392. A delay network including aresistor 394 and a capacitor 396 delays the action of winding 388 untilthe pitch has had time to pass through frame 14. When winding 388 isenergized, it steps a ballscounte-r actuator cam 396, a circuitinterrupting earn 398, and a cam 480 through a mechanism 402. Each timecam 396 steps, it acts against a spring 404 to move arm 398 out ofengagement with the contact 392 and into engagement with a contact 406normally to apply an output pulse to the terminal K of the unit througha switch arm 408 normally in engagement with a contact 410 connected tothe terminal K.

Let us assume that the unit 368 shown in FIGURE 9 corresponds to a countof three for example. Cam 396 then steps three times. Upon the thirdstep of the shaft a projection on cm 398 acts against spring 412 to movearm 384 out of engagement with contact 382 to interrupt the holdingcircuit for winding 376. This action prevents winding 388 from beingre-energized when arm 390 again engages contact 392 after the thirdcount. Thus unit 368 completes its first count of three. When the unit368 is activated the next time it operates as above and cam 398 has aprojection in the sixth position to prevent re-energization of winding388 after the sixth shaft step. Since ten, the number of steps in onerevolution of cam shaft is not evenly divisible by the count number,three, rather than putting a projection in the ninth position for thethird operation of the unit 368 shown in FIGURE 9, I place a projectionin the tenth position so that the shaft will return to its zero positionafter it has counted three times. In so doing, however, I cause the unitto generate four counts during its last counting operation. To ensurethat only three of these counts are appiled to terminal K I place aprojection on cam 400 so that just as the shaft moves into its tenthposition this projection acts against spring 417 to move arm 408 out ofengagement with contact 410 to interrupt the circuit from contact 486 toterminal K.

The cams 398 and 400 of the various units 368 have projections atlocations corresponding to shaft positions as shown in Table I below.

Table 1 Counter Weight Shaft Position Cam wwwaaalamma When cam 398 actsagainst its spring 412 to move arm 384 out of engagement with contact382 it moves the arm 384 into engagement with a contact 414 to apply apulse of potential to terminal I through a diode 416 and to apply apulse of potential to terminal L. I connect all the terminals I of theunits 368 to a conductor 416 leading to the terminal D of the 312 toindicate that a pitch has been thrown when any one of the cords 20 isactuated.

The form of my invention shown in FIGURE 7 in cludes a plurality ofstrike scoring counter actuating units, indicated generally by thereference character 418 and shown in detail in FIGURE 10. As can be seenby reference to FIGURE 10, each of the units 418 includes a plurality ofterminals M, N, O, P, Q, and R. A switch arm 420 normally in engagementwith a contact 422 connects the terminals M and N of each unit 418. Iconnect the terminal N of the highest counting unit 418 to the conductor374. I connect the terminal M of a higher count unit 418 to the terminalN of the next lower count unit 418. In this manner all the units 418 arenormally in a condition to operate. When, however, the ball unit 312operates to indicate that the pitch definitely is a ball, the arm 316 ofthis unit moves out of engagement with the contact 320 to disable allthe ball-or-strike units 368 and all the strike units 418. In a similarmanner if any one of the strike units 418 is operated the lower countunits are disabled. I connect the switches corresponding to the cords 22to the terminals 0 of the units 418 through terminal board 310 in suchmanner as to give the desired weight to areas within the vertical extentof the strike zone. When a pitch strikes a cord 22 to close a switch 90,it energizes a winding 424 to move switch arm 428 out of engagement withcontact 422 and into engagement with a contact 42s and to move a contactarm 428 out of engagement with a contact 430 and into engagement with acontact 432. The engagement of contact arm 428 with the contact 432completes a holding circuit for the winding 424 through a cam-actuatedarm 434 normally in engagement with a contact 436. A conductor 438connects arm 434 to the terminal N which is connected to the source ofpotential through the circuit described above.

As has been explained hereinabove in connection with the showing ofFIGURE 9, whenever the ball or strike cord 20 associated with aparticular unit 368 is struck by a pitch passing through the frame 12,the unit 368 produces a number of output pulses at its terminal Kcorresponding to said score assigned to the particular cord. By way ofexample in FIGURE 10 I have shown a form of the strike counter 418adapted to produce a count of six. As can be seen in the figure, cam 486has a projection only in the tenth position while cam 488 hasprojections in the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth positions. This isin accordance with Table I above.

I connect all the K output terminals of the units 368 to a commonconductor 440. A conductor 442.cnnects the common output conductor 440to a common input conductor 44-4 which feeds all the P input terminalsof the units 418. A conductor 446 connected to all the lOOs counters areconstructed in a manner similar to that described hereinabove inconnection with the counters shown in FIGURE 5. With one of the units418 actuated so that arms 420 and 428 are in engagement'with contacts426 and 432, and with the pulses coming from i one of the units 368applied to the terminal P of the energized unit'418, they are conductedthrough a circuit including a contact 454 engaged by a switch arm 456,to, the terminal Q of the unit and through conductor .46 to thecounters.

As has also been explained hereinabove, at the end of each countingoperation of a unit 363 switch arm 384 momentarily engages contact 414to apply a pulse both to the terminal I through crystal 416 and to theterminal L. As has also been explained hereinabove, this pulse .ofpotential at the terminal I actuates the ballsthrown counter actuatingunit 312. I connect allthe out put'terminals L of the units 368 to acommon conductor 458 which is connected to a common input conductor46(i'connected to all the R terminals of the units 418. A 'pulseappearing at the output terminal L of a unit 368 as the unit completesits counting operation passes to the terminal R of the units 418 andthrough a diode 462 to energize a relay winding 464. When energized,

winding 464 moves a contact 'arrn 466 into engagement with a contact468, moves contact arm 456 out of engagement with the contact 454 andmoves a contact arm 476 into engagement with a contact 472. 'Theengagement of the contact arm 476 with the contact 472 completes aholding circuit for winding 464 from the terminal N through arm 42%} inengagement with contact 426, through arm 466 in engagement with contact468 through a diode 474 and through contact 472 engaged by arm 473 tothe winding 464. Movement of arm 456 out of engagement with contact 454interrupts the circuit for passing ball or strike scoring impulses tothe counter. Engagement of the arm 466 with the contact 468 completes acircuit through a cam operated contact arm 476 and a contact 47 8 to acam stepping V V winding 4:80 adapted when energized to actuate alinkage 482 to'step cams 484, 486, and 488. The circuit of Winding 480includes a resistor 479 and a capacitor 481. On each step cam 484 actsagainst a spring 499 to move arm 476 out of engagement with contact 478and into engagement with a contact 492. This action appliesan outputpulse to the terminal Q through a contact arm 49 4 in engagement with acontact 4% connected to contact 454 leading. to the terminal Q. When thearm 476 returns to the contact 478, another stepping operation takesplace until, in the particular unit 418 shown in FIGURE 10, ten stepshave been completed.

jW'hen the projections of cam 438 act against a spring 498 they move arm494 out of engagement with contact 496 so thatsonly that predeterminednumber of pulses corresponding to the assigned scoring weight for theunit 418 are sentto thecounter. 011 the occurrence of the tenth step cam486acts against a spring 504 to move arm 434 outof engagement withcontact 436 to interrupt the Iholding circuit of winding 424 and 464 topermit the unit toreset Thus areas within the strike zone may be 1 ingfrom the spirit of my invention. be understood that my invention is notto be limited-to invention in termsof the actuation of signal cords, itmay be. that a pitch passing through the frames 12 and 14 may actuatemore than one cord in either of thetrames at a time. In this event onlythat cord which is closer to the center of the strike zone registers.

In operation of. the'form of my invention'shown in FIGURES l to 5,apitch passing through the frame 12 and striking a ball cord 18energizes the winding 94 to cause a ball to be registered on theindividual hypothetical batter ball counter indicator 159 and to causeaball to be registered on the total balls counter indicators 182 and 192.If a pitch passing through the frame-l2 strikes a ball-or-strike cord20, it energizes relay winding 96 to begin to energize the winding 122.If before energization of this winding is complete the pitch strikes acord 22 in frame 14, then winding 98 is energized to preventenergization of winding 122 and to energize winding 222 to cause astrike to register on counter indicator 234 and on counter indicators270 and 289. If no cord 2 is struck by a pitch passing through frame 14,then winding 122 is energized to register'a ball in the same manner asisdone when a cord 18 is actuated. In the operation of the form of myinvention show in FIGURES 7 to 10 if a pitch passingthroughthe frames 12'actuates a cord 18, then a switch 86 actuates the unit 312 to cause thecounter 346 to register the fact that a ball has been thrown. viceactuates a cord 26 in the course of its passage through frame '12, thena switch 88 closes to activate the unit 368 to which this switch 88 isconnected'to cause the unit'368 to begin its count. If this pitch failsto strike a cord 22 in the course of its passage through frame 14, thenthe count of the unit 368 is not passed to the scor ing counters 448,450, and 452. If however afterhaving struck a cord 20 in its passagethrough frame 12 a pitch then strikes a cordr22 as it passes throughframe 14, a switch is actuated to activate one of the units 4% withwhich the switch is associated. The activated unit.

418 first passes the count of the activated unit 368 to the scoringindicators .448, 450, and 452 and then passes its own count to thescoring; indicators. Inthis matterthe indicators register a score forthe pitch which is that score corresponding to the part of the strikezone through which the pitch passed. V

It will be seen that I have accomplishedthe objects of I have provided abaseball pitching practice device which defines the extent of a strikezone with my invention.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombiaations areofutility and may be empl yed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of myclaims.

it is further obvious that various changesmay be made in details withinthe scope of my claims without depart the specific details shown anddescribed. 7

Having thus described. my invention, what I claim'is f:

'1. A baseball pitching practice device for scoring in response to thepassage of a pitch thrown toward the device through a strike zone havinga vertical extentand a lateral 'extent'ineludingin combinationrespective laterally spaced first actuatable means for definingthelateral extent of the strike zone, respectively vertically spaced 7second actuatable means fordefining the ver'tical extent" of sa d strikezone, means mounting the first and second actuatable means one behindtheother in the path of pitches to define said strike zone, a plurality offirst 7 It a pitch thrown toward my de- It is, therefore, to.

counting means adapted to be energized to generate respective counts, aplurality of second counting means adapted to be energized to generaterespective counts, means connecting the first actuatable means to saidfirst counting means, means connecting said second actuatable means tothe second counting means, and means responsive to the sequentialactuation of a first actuatable means and a second actuatable means fortotalizing the counts provided by the respective corresponding countingmeans associated with the first and second actuatable means.

2. A baseball pitching practice device for scoring in response to thepassage of a pitch thrown toward the device through a strike zone havinga vertical extent and a lateral extent including in combinationrespective laterally spaced first actuatable means for defining thelateral extent of the strike zone, respective vertically spaced secondactuatable means for donning the vertical extent of said strike zone,the extent of one of said actuatable means. having a portion outsidesaid strike zone, means mounting the first and second actuatable meansone behind the other in the path of pitches to define said strike zone,a plurality of first counting means adapted to be energized to generaterespective counts, a plurality of second counting means adapted to be enrgized to generate respective counts, means connecting the firstactuatable means to the first counting means, means connecting saidsecond actuatable means to the second counting means, means responsiveto the sequential actuation of a first actuatable means and a secondactuatable means for totalizing the counts provided by the respectivecorresponding countiug means associated with the first and secondacmatable means and meansresponsive to the actuation of only one of saidactuatable means for preventing the registration of the count of theassociated counter.

3. A baseball pitching practice device for scoring in response to thepassage of a pitch thrown toward the device through a strike zone havinga vertical extent and a lateral extent including in combinationrespective laterally spaced first actuatable means for defining thelateral extent of the strike zone, respective vertically spaced secondactuatable means for defining the vertical extent of said strike zone,means mounting the first and second actuatable means one behind theother in the path of pitches to define said strike zone, a plurality offirst counting means adapted to be energized to generate respectivecounts, a plurality of second counting means adapted to be energized togenerate respective counts, means connecting the first actuatable meansto the first counting means, means connecting said second actuatablemeans to the second counting means, means responsive to the sequentialactuation of a first actuatable means and a second actuatable means fortotalizing the counts provided by the respective corresponding countingmeans associated with the first and second actuatable means, thirdactuatable means for defining areas outside said strike zone, thirdcounting means and means responsive to said third actuatable means forenergizing said third counting means.

4. A baseball pitching practice device for scoring in response to thepassage of a pitch thrown toward the device through a strike zone havinga vertical extent and a lateral extent including in combinationrespective laterally spaced first actuatable means for defining thelateral extent of the strike zone, respective vertically spaced secondactuatable means for defining the vertical extent of said strike zone,means mounting the first and second actuatable' means one behind theother in the path of pitches to define said strike zone, a plurality offirst counting means adapted to be energized to generate respectivecounts, a plurality of second counting means adapted to be energized togenerate respective counts, means connecting the first actuatable meansto the first counting means, means connecting said second actuatablemeans to the second counting means, means responsive to the sequentialactuation of a first actuatable means and a second actuatable means fortotalizing the counts provided by the respective corresponding countingmeans associated with the first and second actuatable means and meansresponsive to operation of said actuatable means for counting the totalnumber of strikes.

5. A baseball pitching practice device for indicating that a pitchthrown toward said device is a strike or a ball with reference to astrike zone defined by an extent in a lateral direction and by an extentin a vertical direction including in combination first actuatable meanshaving an extent in one of said directions greater than thecorresponding strike zone extent, second actuatable means having anextent in the other direction substantially equal to said strike zoneextent, means mounting said first and second actuatable means in thepath of pitches to define said strike zone, means responsive to thesequential actuation by a pitch of said respective actuatable means forindicating that said pitch is a strike, means responsive to actuation bya pitch of said first actuatable means in its extent outside said strikeZone in said one direction for indicating that said pitch is a ball,means responsive to said sequential actuation indicating means forcounting the total number of said strikes, and means responsive to saidother indicating means for counting the total number of said balls.

6. A baseball pitching practice device for indicating that a pitchthrown toward said device is a strike or a ball with reference to astrike zone defined by an extent in a lateral direction and by an extentin a vertical direction including in combination first actuatable meanshav .ing an extent in one of said directions greater than thecorresponding strike zone extent, second actuatable means having anextent in the other direction substantially equal to said strike zoneextent, means mounting said first and second actuatable means in thepath of pitches to define said strike zone, means responsive to thesequential actuation by a pitch of said respective actuatable means forproducing a first signal, means responsive to the actuation by a pitchof said first actuatable means at a location outside said strike zone insaid one direction for producing a second signal, first means responsiveto said first signal for indicating the number of strikes pitched to anyindividual hypothetical batter, second means responsive to said firstsignal for indicating the total number of strikes thrown during apractice session, third means responsive to said first and secondsignals for indicating the number of balls thrown to an individualhypothetical batter and fourth means responsive to said first and secondsignals for indicating the total number of balls thrown during apractice session.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,040,228 Whiteley May 12, 1936 2,054,604 Pence et a1 Sept. 15, 19362,113,899 Gram Apr. 12, 1938 2,181,728 Greentree Nov. 28, 1939 2,291,749Nicolaus Aug. 4, 1942 2,527,661 tack Oct. 31, 1950 2,590,444 Millman ctal Mar. 25, 1952 2,814,442 Daykin Nov; 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS

1. A BASEBALL PITCHING PRACTICE DEVICE FOR SCORING IN RESPONSE TO THEPASSAGE OF A PITCH THROWN TOWARD THE DEVICE THROUGH A STRIKE ZONE HAVINGA VERTICAL EXTENT AND A LATERAL EXTENT INCLUDING IN COMBINATIONRESPECTIVE LATERALLY SPACED FIRST ACTUATABLE MEANS FOR DEFINING THELATERAL EXTENT OF THE STRIKE ZONE, RESPECTIVELY VERTICALLY SPACED SECONDACTUATABLE MEANS FOR DEFINING THE VERTICAL EXTENT OF SAID STRIKE ZONE,MEANS MOUNTING THE FIRST AND SECOND ACTUATABLE MEANS ONE BEHIND THEOTHER IN THE PATH OF PITCHES TO DEFINE SAID STRIKE ZONE, A PLURALITY OFFIRST COUNTING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED TO GENERATE RESPECTIVECOUNTS, A PLURALITY OF SECOND COUNTING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED TOGENERATE RESPECTIVE COUNTS MEANS CONNECTING THE FIRST ACTUATABLE MEANSTO SAID FIRST COUNTING MEANS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID SECOND ACTUATABLEMEANS TO THE SECOND COUNTING MEANS, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THESEQUENTIAL ACTUATION OF A FIRST ACTUATABLE MEANS AND A SECOND ACTUATABLEMEANS FOR TOTALIZING THE COUNTS PROVIDED BY THE RESPECTIVE CORRESPONDINGCOUNTING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRST AND SECOND ACTUATABLE MEANS.